Vegetable-washer.



PATENTED APR. 26, 1904.

J. P. FUGAZZI. VEGETABLE WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

M' 7755555' @QM Patented April 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. FUGAZZI, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

VEGETABLE-WASHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 758,056, dated April26, 1904. Application led January 17, 1903. Serial No. 139,367. ENOmodel.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern."

Be it known that I, JOHN F. FUGAZZI, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton andState of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Vegetable-I/Vasher; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and eX-act description thereof, attention being called to the accompanyingdrawings, with the reference-numerals marked thereon, which form also apart of this specication.

This invention relates to a device for washing vegetables for themarket, the object being to remove and clean away any adhering sand,earth, or other matter before they pass into the hands of the buyers andconsumers.

The invention is intended more particularly for use in connection withcelery, the object being to remove from the white stalks any adheringimpurities and foreign substances.

rIhe invention consists of the particular construction of the device asthe same, together with its parts and manner of use, is described andclaimed in the following specification and as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l shows a longitudinal sectionof my vegetable-washer. Fig. 2 is a top View of the same. Fig. 3 is avertical cross-section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an end view, atreduced scale, showing' manner of use of the apparatus. Fig. 5 shows amodied construction of the sponge-holding part of the device.

The operation of my device contemplates the use of water first for thepurpose of loosening' sand and earth adhering to the stalks, for whichpurpose these latter are immersed and left soaking for a suitable time,after which they are lifted out and rinsed off with clean water.

The apparatus consists, primarily, of a tank 10, which may be of wood orsheet metal or of the former material and lined with the latter and isconstructed so as to be adapted to hold water. Its top is entirely opento be accessible, and by means of an overflow-pipe 1l the water-level ismaintained so as to be somewhat below the top, as shown in the drawings.Below this maintained water-level and above the bottom 12 there is anintermediate Hoor 13, which serves as a support for the vegetables andupon which they rest while subjected to the preliminary action of water,which is by immersion and soaking. This iioor is constructed in anysuitable manner rendering it perforate, the object being to prevent anyof the vegetables from sinking to the bottom of the tank, but at thesame time permitting sand, earth, and other matter loosened from them topass through and settle to the bottom of the tank below, so as to becomethereby separated from the vegetables. For such purpose this iioorconsists of suitable perforated material, like a wire screen, as shown.Bolttom 12 is inclined toward one end and provided with a pocket 14thereat, within which the sediment deposited on bottom 12 accumulatesand from which from time to time it is discharged through an outlet-pipe15. The lower end of overflow-pipe 11 by being seated inthe upper end ofthis outlet-pipe keeps this latter normally closed. It is guided betweenbrackets 16 and by means of a handle 17 can be raised to open theoutlet-pipe to Hush pocket 14. The vegetables after subjection to thispreliminary bath for a certain time 0r immediately after immersion, ifexpedient, are lifted out by an attendant, who takes a suitable bunchwith both hands and while so holding the same passes it between tworinsing-heads 18 and 19, having opposite inclined faces 18a and 19,which are perforated and from which water discharges, the direction ofthe discharge being into the space between the heads and downwardly, soas to come fully in contact with the vegetables. These latter are heldinto this space and preferably turned around and also passed up and downseveral times to thoroughly subject all parts to the rinsing action ofthe water. At the same time the vegetables or stalks come in contactwith a suitable scouring or scrubbing medium sufiiciently soft andyielding to prevent cutting or breaking of the stalks. For such purposeI provide two rubbers 21 and 22, one on each side below therinsing-heads and which consist of brushes made of suitable material. Iprefer to use Sponges as the material, held between two holding-clamps23 and 24, one be- The inner oppolow each head on each side.

ICO

^ with the vegetables.

site edges of these rubbers, or sponges in this case, project beyond theinner opposite sides of the rinsing-heads, so that the bunchedvegetables while being moved up and down come in contact with theserubbers, whereby, in addition to the simultaneous action of the water,the stalks are thoroughly and substantially cleaned. After the rinsingoperation the Vegetables are thrown upon an endless carrier-belt 25,which is caused to move and whereby they are carried away and dischargedat a suitable point or taken ofi' thereat by another attendant forpacking or disposal otherwise. The ends of this belt are supported onrollers 26, one of which is rotated by any suitable means. rlhe materialof this apron should be such as to permit the water and moisture todrain from the vegetables while they are carried away, so that by thetime they arrive at the point of delivery they are comparativelydry-that is, free from dripping water. For such purpose a perforatedmaterial, openmesh fabric, or wire-cloth may be used. rIhe water drainsinto a gutter 27, by which it is returned ,into the main tank. Thiswater, as w ell as that discharged from the rinsing-heads 18 and 19,forms the supply of tank 10 vand is maintained therein at a iiXed levelby the overiiow-pipe 11. If it is desired that the rinsing action uponany particular bunch be continued, a shelf 28 is provided upon which theparticular bunch is set, thus avoiding that the same be held by thehands during that time. The opposite rinsing-heads and rubbers arepreferably adjustable with reference to each other-that is to say, onone side the rinsinghead and rubber below/it are supported so as to bemovable to and from the same parts on the other side. Normally themovable side is farthest away from the other side to permit passing inof the vegetables in an easy and convenient manner between them, afterwhich the movable side is caused to move over toward the other side asclose as the thickness of the vegetables between them permits. I-n thismanner the rubbers will come in close and proper contact with thevegetables to do their work. The inner-that is, free or opposite-edgesof the sponges project beyond the inner sides of the rinsing-heads aboveto prevent these latter from coming in contact In the case shown head 19is the movable one and its movement is preferably a swinging one, itssupport being arranged accordingly. As shown in Fig. 3, I use twostandards 29, engaging at their upper ends Vthe ends of the rinsing-headand attaching with their lower onesto a rock-shaft A31, supported inbearings in the lower part of the tank. Movement in one direction ispreferably automatic, induced by springs or a weight, as shown at 32,while the other movement is positive and operated by suitable mechanicalmeans. I prefer to have the opening movement automatic and the closingmovement positive. For purposes of this latter I use a lever 33,attached to one end of rock-shaft 31, which projects'beyond the tank,and which lever is oscillated by means of a treadle 34 and intermediatelink 35.

Instead of moving the rinsing-head the latter may be supported to bestationary in the remotest position from the other head and theparticular rubber only may be movable, as

shown in Fig. 5. Again, in either case where therubber moves, eitheralone or in conjunction with its rinsing-head, it is preferablysupported so as to be yieldable, so that its impact with the vegetablesis cushioned to prevent the latter from being mashed or bruised. Forsuch purpose the rubbers, or in this case the sponge-holding clamps 23and YY24, are supportedto have an independent movement outside of themovement to and from the other rubber, which movement is a yielding onebetween guides 36, as shown in Fig. 5. The rubbers, or sponges in thiscase, if the closing movement is an abrupt or forcible one, will yieldas soon as coming in contact with the vegetables between them, therebypreventing injury to the same. Cushion-springs 37 back of the rubberhold the same to its normal position. One of the bearings for rock-shaft31 forms at the same time a stuffing-box 38 where the samepasses throughthe end of the tank.

Supply of water to the rinsing-heads is controlled by a cock 39. Incases where all unnecessary waste of water must be prevented said cockmay be automatically controlled by operative connection from the movableparts of the rinsing-head or rubber and in a manner that waterdischarges only after the vegetables are in place and the movable partshave been moved into operative position. This connection consists of akey 41 on cock 39 and a link 42 and rod 43, whereby it is connected tothe movable parts.

The manner of use is apparent from Fig. 4. 'Ihe operator lifts a bunchof the vegetables from ioor 13, where it has received its preliminarybath, and passes the same into the space between the rinsing-heads,where he moves it up and down and back and forth, so as to thoroughlysubject it to the action of the discharging water. Next he throws itonto the conveyer-belt,whereby it is carried away, after which he isready to take up another bunch. The discharge of water stops as soon asthe operator takes his foot off of treadle 34, so that the water is shutofi1 and no waste occurs whenever he leaves his position.

Having described my invention, I claim as newl. In a vegetable-washer,the combination of a tank in which the vegetables receive a preliminarybath, two opposite rubbers between which the vegetables are to becleaned thereafter, they being supported movably with reference to eachother, mechanism whereby this movement is positively performed, means toIIC such water into the space between these heads and a scouring deviceattached to the under side of each one of these heads and projectinginto the space between them.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN n. FUGAZZIQ Witnesses:

C. SPENGEL, ARTHUR KLINE.

